Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-24

University, the illustrious DR.. Cook, the origi-
nal compounder of the celebrated Cooks pills,
and the no less illustrious Ben. Dudley, were
connected with the institution. That was before
the days ofrailroads. and DR.. Barron was under
the necessity Of riding all the way from York
county, South Carolina, to Lexington, Ken
lucky. 1t was through the influence, in part,
of DR.. Cathcart, that DR.. Barron went to Tran
sylvania University to complete his studies in
medicine. DR.. Cathcart had graduated from
with it. In addition to the advice of Dr.. Cath
cart, it may be stated that the reputation of
Pennsylvania University was at the time very
great in the South, and its merits were equal to
its reputation.
After graduating in medicine, DR.. Barron be-
gan Immediately the practice of his profession
in York county, in what is known as the Bethel
neighborhood. In this community he remain
ed only about one year. From Bethel he moved
to what is known as "Santuc," below Rock
Hill, On the plantation now owned by Mr.. D..
II. Leslie. In this community he remained
until the latter part of the year 1887, when he
moved to what is known in the community as
the "Hicklin Place."
Tits proper to state at this point, that in Feb
ruary, 1880, he was married to Miss Mary A.
Presley. What is called the "Hicklin Place."
was the property of Mr.. William Presley, the
father of Mary A. Presley. Mr.. Presley had
been dead for many years, and when the estate
was settled up, DR.. Barron, to crafty his wife,
uBu GLG uOlllCSLChuo " uC4 dGllCI dAu IN
to it. Here Mrs. Barron was born, and here
her brothers, Judge Presley and DIR. Samuel
H. Presley, were born, and here her mother
had died. Such being the case, Mrs. Barron
felta peculiar interest in the place, and earnest
ly urged her husband to purchase it at the sale
of her fathers property. This he did, and re-
manned in the house in which his wife was born
for about twelve years.
His professional labors during these twelve
years were enormous For weeks, during the
sickly season Of the year, it compelled con-
slant riding, both night and day, to meet the
requirements Of his practice. Often for weeks
he was not allowed to sleep at home, and only
visited his home for the purpose OF changing
horses. These labors were so oppressive that
his health failed, and he was forced to abandon
the practice of his profession for more than
three years. During this time he devoted his
attention to farming; but although he had
been brought up on a farm, and was tond OF
farming, he was a farmer only in theory. OF
this he was conscious.
In 1854, his health having been restored, he
came to Yorkville and began the practice of
medicine with DR.. J. R. Bratton. The co-part-
nership with DR.. Bratton continued until the
beginning Of the late war, when DR.. Bratton
went as a surgeon to Winder Hospital, Vir-
ginia. :,
After coming to Yorkville, DR.. Barron sold
out his lands near Ebenezer, and purchased a
plantation in the vicinity of Yorkville: On
this he placed his negroes, but although the
plantation was favorably situated and produce
tive, and the negroes were healthy and ROBUST,
neither farm nor negroes were profitable to
their owner. With strict regard for truth, it
might be said that, nominally, DR.. Barron
owned the negroes, but in reality the negroes
owned DR.. Barron. He fed, clothed and shell
tered them out of his own labors, while they
were permitted to live at ease and free from
care. In a pecuniary point Of view 1t would
have been a good thing if DR.. Barron's negroes
had all been freed long before they were. AS a
master he was indulgent to an extent which
was injurious to his slaves. Even after his ne
groes were freed, they continued to depend
upon him for every thing but political advice.
DIR. Barron continued to practice medicine
until within some seven or eight years OF his
death, when the infirmities of years forced him
to give it up. As a physician he was eminent
ly successful. He had the confidence OF his
patients and his judgment as a consulting
physician was highly respected by all the prac-
titioners in the county. He made no preten-
sions to what is called surgery still, he per
formed skillfully and successfully some diff
cult operations.
Dr.. Barron took a lively interest in all the
public affairs of the country, but he had very
little political aspiration. he was a member
of the State Convention which signed the Or
dinance of Secession, and when the war began
he gave four sons to maintain the rights OF the
South. One Of these sons died.
AS man, DR.. Barron was, in the proper sense
of the word, a perfect gentleman. He was
courteous and kind to everybody. He always
had a decided opinion on every subject which
affected the community, and he was ever ready
to express that opinion at the proper time; but
his opinions were expressed with so much
courtesy and with so much regard for those
who differed with him, that no one was Offend
ed, and his views respecting any question were
treated with marked Difference. He made it a
point never to insult any individual, and 1t
was only when grossly insulted that he exhlb-
tied the least sign of resentment.
DR.. Barron was a member OF the ASSOCIATE
Reformed Church for near sixty years, and for
nearly all that length of time a ruling elder.
William Barron, his father, and perhaps his
grand father, Archibald Barron, was a member
of the Associate, or as it Is usually called,
Secession Church of Scotland.
The Associate Church in which the members
of the denomination in the community wor-
shipped, stood near the northwest corner OF
Ebeiezer graveyard. When in 1882 the Asso-
ciate Reformed Church was organized, this
congregation seems to have been divided, and
both Associate and Associate Reformed minis
tiers preached in the pulpit for several years.
The name of the church was Ebenezer. Soon
after the difficulty between Revs. Peter Nc
Mullen and William Dixon and the First Pres
bytery of the Associate Reformed Church OF
the South occurred, Rev. William Dixon organ
lied Tirzah. This was about loOS. Gradually
the Ebenezer congregation was absorbed by
Tirzah. The first location of Tlrzah church
was near the miller graveyard" in John
Sadler's field. 1t was, about 1910, moved to
a site within a few rods ofthe Methodist Church,
Adnah. Again, in 1859, Tirzah was moved to
it's present site. In Tirzah congregation DR..
Barron was religiously educated, and in it he
and his father and at least one of his fathers
brothers, were ruling elders.
After moving to Yorkville, he, together with
Col. William Wright, Col. w. G. Beatty, Major
John G.. Enloe, and a few others, organized the
t.eoo;o{o p aforrno 6 p0nprpOatiOnN of Worthwhile.
In this congregation he continued to discharge
the duties of a ruling elder with great zeal and
energy until incapacitated by the intirmities OF
old age. AS an officer he was always wise and
prudent; never rash and hasty. During a peri
cd both in TirZah and Yorkyille congrega-
tons, events took place which required great
prudence on the part IF the sessions of these
congregations. Ugly cases Of discipline came
up to be dealt with, but in all of these DR.. Bar
ron manifested great piety and wisdom; The
congl egation of Yorkville, for a number OF
years, presented a very discouraging appear
ance. AT one time, by removals, death and
other misfortunes, it seemed as if it would die.
During the dark period DR.. Barron never be-
came Respondent.
In the doctrines of grace, DR.. Barron was
we'll informed. He read the Bible carefully,
and in connection with the Bible he read con-
Bereans of old, he received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures
daily" that he might learn the truth.
Although DR.. Barron's UNCONVENTIONAL con-
~yictions we're clear, we'll defined and decided,
no man, not to be a latitudinarian, was ever
more charitable in his notions concerning
Christians of other denominations, or more
courteous in his treatment of Christians of ev-
cry name. In society, DR.. Barron acted the
part and bore the reputation ola Christian gen.
tleman. In his own house, among his children
and grand children, he was a Prince in Israel.
Ha honestly and persistently attempted to Or
der his house we'll before the Lord. BY pre-
cept and by example he endeavored to bring up
and admonition Of the Lord.
During the latter part of his life he restricted
.a,l;,. - +I,o RibIa-tba Nayy TaSto maDt,